ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistan’s University of Lahore have launched a fellowship programme for Bangladeshi students.
The state-run news agency APP reported on Sunday that the programme seeks to provide opportunities to Bangladeshi students and researchers aged 22 to 45 living anywhere in the world to pursue their higher education.
The fellowship covers tuition, airfare, a stipend, and free accommodation.
The scholarship initiative is a collaboration of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation and Pakistan’s University of Lahore.
“This program reflects our dedication to uniting the Muslim world through education and research,” said Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, COMSTECH’s coordinator general. “We want to nurture innovators and leaders to tackle today’s challenges.”
Interested candidates can apply on the official websites of COMSTECH and the University of Lahore. The application deadline is March 1, 2025.
This initiative comes as Pakistan and Bangladesh seek to mend ties. Relations soured under the Indian’s backed Sheikh Hasina’s government, which prosecuted her opposition leaders.
Bangladesh, once part of Pakistan, gained independence in 1971.
Relations have improved recently, especially as Bangladesh’s ties with India have strained. Sheikh Hasina, now out of office, has sought refuge in India.
After a long period of strained ties, relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh are witnessing improvement after the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government through a student movement on August 5.
After the establishment of an interim government, relations between Dhaka and Islamabad are witnessing improvement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held a meeting with Bangladesh Interim Government Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in September.
Trade and direct air travel between Pakistan and Bangladesh had been suspended for years. However, recently, Pakistan and Bangladesh for the first time established a direct maritime route that decreased transit time from 25 days to 10 days.
